POWER HOUSE

Italian manufacturer Azimut is the world’s largest producer of large luxury powerboats, building a full range of motor-yachts from its seven shipyards in Italy for more than 50 years; and it has seen no let-up in demand despite the global pandemic. The company is currently taking orders for 2022–23, and it’s not just European owners getting in on the action: five Azimuts were sold to Kiwi owners last year and an additional five sales in 2021 include a second S7 to be launched here in November.

“People are becoming more conscious of luxury products here – look at the cars you see on the roads these days,” says David Hawke of Azimut’s New Zealand agent Pinnacle Marine. “Many owners are demanding more style, luxury, sophistication and technology from their boats, this is where Azimut is taking it to the next level. In the last 18 months, even with Covid, we’ve seen enquiry levels increase significantly.”

This particular Azimut S7, named after a particularly auspicious number in numerology